Dolphins add CB Stanford, FS Nolan, WR Armstrong, LB Brown

The Dolphins are making additions to their two positions of need today.

They successfully reeled in their first waiver wire claim in getting cornerback RJ Stanford, who was cut by Carolina. They also added free safety Troy Nolan off waivers from the Houston Texans.

They have also added wide receiver Anthony Armstrong although it is unclear if he comes on a waiver claim or as a free agent. The Dolphins had discussed trading for Armstrong Friday before those talks with Washington broke down and the Redskins cut the wide receiver.

[Update: Armstrong was claimed off waivers.]

[Update 2: The Dolphins also claimed linebacker Sammy Brown, who was cut by the St. Louis Rams Friday. Brown is going to have to contribute on special teams because he's not going to play a lot otherwise. The Rams were expecting to put him on their practice squad. Brown was a late-round pick. He came to the NFL with a reputation for taking plays off. I hope he's over that or he won't survive in the NFL.]

Stanford is a former seventh-round selection in Carolina from the 2010 draft. He is pretty much a developmental player although he's on the Miami 53-man roster. Stanford has 13 career tackles and one interception.

Obviously, Stanford is not expected to start. He's a fourth or fifth cornerback for Miami.

Nolan, 25, is in his third season. He's played 30 career games the past two seasons and has three interceptions. The addition of Nolan can allow the Dolphins to move Jimmy Wilson from safety to cornerback if the club wants. I expect that will happen.

That's something coach Joe Philbin discussed Friday.

“As you know, we still have some things we have to do and we want to obviously see what’s out there," Philbin said. "To say we’re leaning one way or the other would probably be premature, but certainly he’s played that position. Good common sense would tell you that would be an option.”

Obviously, the addition of three players to the roster means three have to go. It makes sense for the team to let go of Steve Slaton. There is a glut at running back and the team wanted to trade Slaton for Armstrong yesterday.

[Update: Slaton has been cut.]

Armstrong, by the way, returns to the Dolphins after two seasons with the Washington Redskins. He had a fine season in 2010, catching 44 passes for 871 yards (19.8 average) but he was injured much of last season and slumped to only seven catches.

He was cut by the Redskins because they upgraded their receiver corps with free agent additions and Armstrong was injured for parts of camp. It's unclear how healthy Armstrong is right now. Armstrong was on the Dolphins practice squad in 2008 and was cut by Miami in August 2009 as the team trimmed the roster for the season.